Springtime is here! The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining brighter, and unfortunately, the bugs are back. Most important to veterinarians and pet owners are those pesky, parasitic, blood-sucking fleas. They cause itchiness, allergic reactions, dermatitis, and lastly, transmission of tapeworms and blood borne diseases. Fleas are prolific and very successful at dominating their territory, however, they are no match for the safe and effective prescription products available at Central Houston Animal Hospital’s veterinary pharmacy. Although a great deal of over-the-counter products are available, many are ineffective and even unsafe, so care should be taken when administering a product that you have not discussed with your veterinarian. Topical concentrated drops, flea baths, flea powders, flea collars, and a group of oral medications are available. Many have merit, but as I will discuss, understanding the bug is the key to winning the battle.
Much of the reason for treatment failure with current flea products stems from the complexity of the flea life cycle. Similar to grubs that mature into June Bugs underground, and caterpillars that pupate into butterflies on a twig, fleas undergo a multi-step metamorphosis before becoming an adult and unfortunately it all happens in your yard, your carpet and even your bed- gross! Different medications are required to target certain phases of that development in order to best eradicate the environmental load from your home and yard in the shortest possible time.
Flea eggs can be deposited in the environment from untreated pets, rodents, stray cats, birds, etc. making yard control a bit tricky. The good news is that a well-treated dog or cat serves as an excellent exterminator. Adult fleas, which comprise only 5% of the entire life cycle, require a single blood meal before they can lay eggs. Once they find a host, they can lay 20-50 eggs per day - a shocking reproductive rate. Those eggs are smooth and roll right off of the pet into the grass, carpet, cracks, or bedding. Once the eggs hatch, the microscopic larvae weave a lovely silken cocoon and hibernate until heat, vibrations, or carbon dioxide from a host trigger them to emerge, feed and reproduce. The near-adult in the cocoon can live for several months before emerging for a blood meal. The cycle then repeats. Because, they are so prolific and so well protected in the cocoon, compliance is key. It is critical that flea prevention be employed year round, even in the winter. Unfortunately for us, Houston is the flea’s haven of bliss.
When a dog or cat becomes infested with fleas, you will notice incessant itchiness especially at the base of the tail, head/neck and backs of the thighs. You may detect significant redness, self-inflicted scratches, tiny red pimples on the underbelly, and particles that resemble flecks of black pepper near the skin when you part the hair. This is the flea’s excrement in dry form and is referred to as “flea dirt”. If you recognize these signs, you should up the ante with your pet’s flea prevention/treatment.
Shampoos, powders and sprays can kill adult fleas on contact, but generally last only 24 hours. Topical spot-on products such as Frontline, Revolution, Advantage/Advantix, and Certifect do kill adult fleas, have activity against eggs/larvae, and some activity against ticks, but these products often take 12 hours to kill adult fleas. The newer oral products, namely Comfortis and Trifexis are prevention products that do kill adult fleas within 30 minutes of dosing and for an additional 30 days. Comfortis kills fleas only, while Trifexis also contains a heartworm preventative making it very convenient and comprehensive. Sentinel, another heartworm and flea preventative combination pill has activity against flea eggs and larvae only, but not adult fleas.
With so many products available, how can you know what is best? The principle behind Comfortis and Trifexis is that fleas die before they are able to lay any new eggs. In general, 3 solid months of Trifexis or Comfortis should rid your yard of 99% of the flea population, with the 1% being the continued influx of fleas from external sources. If ticks are an issue or if your pet is supremely allergic to flea bites, combinations of these products can be utilized in accordance with your veterinarian’s recommendations. Spraying the yard with insecticide and utilizing environmental control measures, e.g. diatomaceous earth and cedar oil all may be useful for short-term results, however many of these products harbor human and animal safety risks. Care should be taken to educate oneself about these risks before using any such product. Know that fleas love your animal most, so treating your pet will lead to the most effective and lasting results.
As a pet owners and veterinarians, our top priority is preserving the health and comfort of your pets. Flea infestations are relentless and debilitating. The flea prevention products available at Central Houston Animal Hospital offer immediate relief and lasting protection at a reasonable cost. Please check with one of the veterinarians at Central Houston Animal Hospital for more details about our flea prevention recommendations.
It was recently brought to our attention that there are rumors circulating online about the existence of two new strains of canine distemper virus. These rumors are untrue. After consulting with two experts, Dr. Ed Dubovi (from Cornell) and Dr. Ron Schultz (from the University of Wisconsin), we provide the following information:
There is no data to back up claims that the disease is on the rise on a national level, but there have been many outbreaks of distemper covered in the news media.
For more information, please visit the post on our AVMA@Work blog.
Plaque: Pets rarely get cavities, but are much more prone to gum disease and excess tartar build-up on the teeth. Food particles and bacteria collect along the gumline forming plaque. Routine home care can remove this plaque.
Tartar: If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar (or calculus) which adheres strongly to the teeth. Plaque starts to mineralize 3-5 days after it forms. The tartar is irritating to the gums and causes inflammation called gingivitis. This can be seen as reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth and also causes bad breath. At this point it is necessary to remove the tartar with special instruments called scalers, followed by polishing the teeth.
Periodontal Disease: If the tartar is not removed, it builds up under the gumline. It separates the gums from the teeth to form “pockets” and encourages even more bacterial growth. Progression of periodontal disease can be very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection. As bacteria continue to thrive, they may enter the bloodstream potentially leading to infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys. When treated by your veterinarian with advanced techniques and instrumentation, periodontal disease can corrected and repaired.
Oral Exams by Your Veterinarian: A thorough dental exam can identify potential problems such as plaque and tartar build-up, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and fractured or abscessed teeth. During an oral exam your veterinarian will:
• Examine the animal’s face and head for asymmetry, swelling, or discharges.
• Examine the outside surfaces of teeth and gums, and the “bite”- dental alignment.
• Open the mouth to examine the inner surfaces of the teeth and gums and the tongue, palates, oral mucosa, tonsils, and ventral tongue area.
Dental Cleaning by Your Veterinarian: To prevent dental disease, your dog needs routine dental care at home. In order to perform good home care, you need to start with clean teeth. Brushing will remove plaque but not tartar. So if your dog’s teeth have tartar, it is necessary for your veterinarian to remove it and polish the teeth. This professional veterinary dental cleaning is often called a prophylaxis or “prophy.” A routine dental cleaning consists of:
• Anesthetizing your dog.
• Cleaning the teeth with handheld and ultrasonic scalers. All calculus is removed from above and below and underneath the gumline. This is extremely important and can only be done while the animal is under general anesthesia.
• Polishing the teeth to remove microscopic scratches and residual plaque.
• Inspecting each tooth and the surrounding gums for any signs of disease.
• Applying a dental agent to retard plaque build up.
• Recording any abnormalities or additional procedures on a dental chart.
• Determining the best follow-up and home dental care program for your dog.
During the Month of February receive 10% of all Dental Cleaning Procedures.
View all our services at www.centralhoustonanimalhostpital.com
Every day we are faced with those desperate puppy dog eyes as we finish up dinner. But it is important to understand that we have manipulated canine foods over decades to have trained our pet’s digestive tracts to adapt to a very standardized diet. Reputable dog food brands like Purina, Hill’s, Royal Canin, Iams (to name a few) are tested and guaranteed to provide healthy and balanced nutrition, but we all feel guilty not rewarding them with the pleasures we enjoy on a daily basis. Imagine eating chicken and rice every day of your life, and then being offered a carton of Ben & Jerry’s. Of course, we’d jump at the occasion and savor every bite, but that momentary pleasure can wreak havoc on your intestinal tract. Dogs are uniquely sensitive to these dietary changes in the same way that human baby may be. Acute loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea (individually or in combination) can result from giving your pet a novel snack. Additionally, the pancreas, a gland that works in concert with the GI tract, can become acutely inflamed when a dog ingests a high fat, spicy or unusual snack. This condition known as pancreatitis can range from mild to severe regardless of the amount of food that was eaten. Symptoms include vomiting abdominal pain, dehydration, diarrhea and inappetance. Hospitalization is often required to ameliorate this condition and response to therapy can vary based on age, breed and severity of symptoms.
The upcoming holidays present unique opportunities for our little “counter surfers”, so please be judicious about treat choices and take extra precaustion when leaving food out in the open.
Central Houston Animal Hospital recognized the need to maintain your pet’s healthy diet while infusing some diverse treat choices. Healthy treat options include: unseasoned popcorn, baby carrots, celery, broccoli, chick peas, canned green beans, and apple slices. For a commercially prepared treat, we recommend Purina “Lite Snackers” and “Gentle Snackers” and CET dental chews.
We are proud to announce our upcoming Adoption Event with Frisky Paws Rescue. On Friday, November 4th from 2pm till 6pm and Saturday, November 5th from 9am till 1pm, we will have pets available for viewing/adoption along with refreshments. We appreciate all the hard work they do to find forever homes for the many abandoned or stray animals that end up in BARC. In honor of their dedication, we are offering a Special 60% off all Microchips done November 2nd-5th. 
We work hard to find good homes for all of the cats and dogs that we rescue from BARC. All of Frisky Paws Rescue’s cats and dogs are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots, and microchipped before being offered for adoption. We follow up with each adopter once an animal has been placed in a home to be certain that the adoption is successful.
For more information, visit our webpage at: www.friskypawsrescue.org
HomeAgain National Pet Recovery Database
HomeAgain microchips are designed to last your pet’s entire lifetime and they link to a permanent listing in our national lost pet database. This means anytime/anywhere pet recovery service—no matter how far your lost pet has traveled.
The veterinarians at Central Houston Animal Hospital strive to offer the best medicine for your pets and want to keep you updated on the latest emerging infectious diseases.
The city of San Antonio has reported an outbreak of dozens of cases of Canine Influenza (“Dog Flu”), a highly contagious viral disease bearing a resemblance to another unfriendly respiratory agent known as “Kennel Cough”. Dogs that have not been vaccinated for Canine Influenza are uniquely susceptible to this relatively new respiratory pathogen that spreads rapidly through shelters, boarding facilities, dog shows, dog parks, etc. at rates of up to 90% infectivity. Canine Influenza is not contagious to cats, humans or other species, but is very easily spread to other dogs through microscopic respiratory particles shed via nose to nose contact, sneezing and coughing. This virus is deceptive and effective in that many dogs infected with the virus will remain asymptomatic, but will shed the viral particles for 7-10 days beyond the onset of symptoms. For that reason, any dog coming from a shelter or similar situation should be isolated from other pets for at least 14 days. Other infected dogs can develop fever, nasal discharge, lethargy, coughing/sneezing, and even pneumonia, a potentially fatal consequence. The incubation period for this disease is approximately 2-5 days, so one can expect to see symptoms within that period after exposure to an infected dog or contaminated area . Although all unvaccinated pets are susceptible, like many pathogens, puppies, geriatric dogs and those dogs housed in stressful conditions (shelters, confinement) are at greatest risk for severe effects. An outbreak in a major nearby city makes the likelihood of the virus coming to Houston very high.
The vaccine formulated for Canine Influenza is safe and effective at reducing the risks associated with this disease. Given the risks to all dogs in our area, the veterinarians at Central Houston Animal Hospital are recommending that all dogs receive an initial vaccine with a booster 2-4 weeks later. After that, annual vaccination yields sufficient immunity against the virus disease reports in our area.
SCHEDULE your pet’s vaccination today.
For more information, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website at www.cdc.gov/flu/canine/
DENTAL DISEASE
Plaque: Pets rarely get cavities, but are much more prone to gum disease and excess tartar build-up on the teeth. Food particles and bacteria collect along the gumline forming plaque. Routine home care can remove this plaque.
Tartar: If plaque is not removed, minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar (or calculus) which adheres strongly to the teeth. Plaque starts to mineralize 3-5 days after it forms. The tartar is irritating to the gums and causes an inflammation called gingivitis. This can be seen as reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth and also causes bad breath. At this point it is necessary to remove the tartar with special instruments called scalers, and then polish the teeth.
Periodontal Disease: If the tartar is not removed, it builds up under the gums. It separates the gums from the teeth to form “pockets” and encourages even more bacterial growth. At this point the damage is irreversible, and called “periodontal” disease. It can be very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection. As bacterial growth continues to increase, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream. This can cause infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys. If treated by your veterinarian with special instruments and procedures, periodontal disease can be slowed or stopped.
Oral Exams by Your Veterinarian: A thorough dental exam can identify potential problems such as plaque and tartar build-up, gingivitis, periodontal disease, and fractured or abscessed teeth. During an oral exam your veterinarian will:
• Examine the animal’s face and head for asymmetry, swelling, or discharges.
• Examine the outside surfaces of teeth and gums, and the “bite”.
• Open the mouth to examine the inner surfaces of the teeth and gums and the tongue, palates, oral mucosa, tonsils, and ventral tongue area.
Dental Cleaning by Your Veterinarian: To prevent dental disease, your dog needs routine dental care at home. But to perform good home care, you need to start with clean teeth. Brushing will remove plaque but not tartar. So if your dog’s teeth have tartar, it is necessary for your veterinarian to remove it and polish the teeth. This professional veterinary dental cleaning is often called a prophylaxis or “prophy.” A routine dental cleaning consists of:
• Anesthetizing your dog.
• Cleaning the teeth with handheld and ultrasonic scalers. All calculus is removed from above and below the gumline. This is extremely important and can only be done if the animal is under anesthesia.
• Polishing the teeth to remove microscopic scratches.
• Inspecting each tooth and the gum around it for any signs of disease.
• Applying a dental agent to retard plaque build up.
• Recording any abnormalities or additional procedures on a dental chart.
• Determining the best follow-up and home dental care program for your dog.
BEFORE 
AFTER
